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Merseyside communities are being urged to speak out as part of a crackdown on off-road bikes.

Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy has today joined forces with crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers and Merseyside Police to launch an initiative encouraging people to come forward with information about unlicensed and uninsured bikes so they can be seized.

Leaflets will be delivered to up to 15,000 homes in ‘hotspot’ areas across Merseyside and residents will be urged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously to give information.

Today a giant ‘ad-van’ featuring the campaign message will travel around areas which have already been seriously affected by the misuse of off-road bikes, including Stockbridge Village, Bootle and Litherland.

A radio campaign will also take the message into thousands of households across Merseyside.

The launch comes after 20-year-old James Kinsella, from Bootle, was jailed for 12 months after being caught on camera riding an off-road motorbike through the Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle on January 7, narrowly missing shoppers including mums with prams.

Mrs Kennedy said: “Not only are these bikes noisy, intimidating and dangerous, they are contributing to anti-social behaviour and we know they are being used by gangs who are committing serious crime by transporting drugs and weapons.

“I have heard time and time again from residents that they want us to put a stop to this kind of behaviour. That’s why we are launching this campaign today – taking the message out into some of the worst affected areas that we do take this behaviour very seriously and the police will take these bikes off the streets, but we need the public’s help.”

James Kinsella, 20, of Hawthorne Road, Bootle, jailed for 12 months after admitting dangerous driving when he rode a scrambler bike through The Strand shopping centre in Bootle

Merseyside Police Superintendent Jenny Simms said: “I want to send a clear message to the people riding these bikes that we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour and we will continue to take action to seize those bikes we believe have been used in this way.

“Cracking down on these bikes is a real priority for us but we cannot tackle this problem alone. We need our communities to be our eyes and ears to tell us who are using these bikes and where they are being stored. We will act on all the information we receive and use every power that is available to the force to search both inside and outside premises.

“Operation Brookdale is an example of our continuing commitment to getting these bikes off the road. In just a three month period last year we seized 176 scrambler and off-road bikes and arrested a total of 59 people.”

Crimestoppers’ North West Regional Manager Gary Murray said: “Together we can get these bikes off the streets and make them safer for your family. We do not know the identity of anyone who contacts us or cannot trace your call, we just want your information, not your name”.

Anyone who knows where bikes are being stored or has any other information should contact Crimestoppers anonymously 24/7 on 0800 555 111. Information can also be passed anonymously through the charity’s website at crimestoppers-uk.org.